2019 polls: LP will not field candidates for elective positions

The Labour Party (LP) says it will not field any candidate for the 2019 elections as it could not hold an all-inclusive national convention as directed by a federal high court in Abuja.

Ebere Ifendu, national publicity secretary of the party, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ifendu said the all-inclusive national convention involving the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), among other partners of the party was yet to hold.

According to her, Abdulkadir Salam, former national chairman of the party, had on October 9, said he was conducting the national executive council (NEC) meeting of the party.

“On October 2, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had written to the party to comply with the order of the Abuja division of the federal high court to conduct an all-inclusive national convention,” she said.

“An all-inclusive national convention that will involve all parties covered by the terms of settlement filled on March 14, 2018.

“Article 13, (2) A, explicitly spells out the composition of the party’s national executive council members, among the persons on the list are presidents and general secretaries of NLC and TUC.

“None of these constitutional members of the organ were in attendance nor represented. This clearly shows that the purported NEC meeting has nothing to do with Labour Party whatever.”

She said the tenure of the NWC of the party ended on October 10, adding that the LP does not have any committee in place.

“This clearly means that any nomination of candidate done by the party after October 11 is null and void and it will be contempt of the court order.

“So, there is no chairman and secretary at this point to sign any nomination forms.”

Ifendu warned Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of INEC, to desist from conniving with Julius Abure, acting national secretary of the party, saying the LP would no longer tolerate their “unnecessary and biased” interference in the party affairs.

She noted that a seven-man committee was being constituted to oversee the activities of the party and the all-inclusive convention in accordance with the court order.

She said the committee is expected to conclude the assignment within 30 days.